LITTORAL LAND BIRDS. 277 
and plantations, although a ledge on a cliff, or a 
ruin, is sometimes selected. In many places, where 
the Heron is sufficiently abundant, it breeds in 
colonies, like Rooks, and resorts, year by year, to 
the same localities. The nest is usually a huge pile 
or platform of sticks, the cavity containing the eggs 
sometimes being lined with turf and moss. Some 
nests are much larger than others, the accumulation 
of years, and most are whitewashed with the birds’ 
droppings. The eggs—three to five in number— 
are greenish-blue, and chalky in texture. When 
disturbed at their nests the big birds rise, crashing 
through the branches into the air, and sail about 
above the place in anxiety until left in peace. 
They utter few or no notes of any kind. When 
the young are nearly full grown, they may be seen 
climbing about the trees, using their beak to assist 
them in passing from one part of the tree to 
another. The Heron is a bird of very wide distri- 
bution, and is found throughout Europe, Africa, 
Asia, and even Australia. 
In conclusion, we may remark that there are 
-many other land birds found upon certain parts 
of the coast from time to time, especially during 
the two great periods of migration in spring and 
in autumn. The above short list must not be 
regarded in any way as being exhaustive. It con- 
tains, however, the most constantly characteristic 
species. Many small Passerine birds frequent the 
shore—especially on our eastern and southern sea- 
